Green synthesized metal nanoparticles as an ecofriendly measure for plant growth stimulation and disease resistance

Nanotechnology, as an advanced technology plays a vital role in various aspects of plants. In recent past, nanoparticles synthesized via biological routes received attention than that of other means of synthesis due to their cost effectiveness and ecofriendly nature. This review is aimed at providing a comprehensive compilation of information on ecofriendly nature of green synthesized nanoparticles especially in plant disease resistance and plant growth enhancement. According to the available literature, among the different biological sources used for green synthesis of nanoparticles, plant based green synthesis has become more popular in recent years because of their non-toxic nature, higher availability and accessibility. The effects of green synthesized nanoparticles are primarily dose dependent and vary with the characteristics of nanoparticle and the plant. Furthermore, application of such nanoparticles at optimum concentration has notably inhibited the number of phytopathogens and favoured the growth and yield attributes of crop plants. Using the green synthesized nanoparticle in combination with other materials were found to have synergistic effects in disease resistance and causes growth enhancement in crop plants. Even though, numerous inherent benefits are there in the green synthesized nanoparticles, constraints such as toxicity at higher concentrations and unsafe disposal to the environment may limit the continuous application and opens new avenues for future studies.